ai4bharat/Pralekha huggingface dataset:
Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment
3rd Meeting of Central Advisory Board on Disability Held
The Third Meeting of the Central Advisory Board on Disability was held here today under the Chairmanship of Shri Thaawarchand Gehlot, Union Minister for Social Justice & Empowerment. Shri Krishan Pal Gurjar, MoS for SJ&E and Vice-Chairman of the Board was also present.
The Central Advisory Board deliberated on certain major issues in the disability sector namely, implementation of the RPwD Act, 2016, Accessible India Campaign, Unique Disability ID Project. The Board also deliberated on issues relating to programmes and schemes of the States to take care of Social Security schemes and programmes for persons with disabilities and developing a National Programme for Comprehensive Early Childhood Rehabilitation of Children with Disabilities.
The Board also took note of the initiatives taken by the Central Government such as establishment of National Institute of Mental Health Rehabilitation and Centre for Disability Sports in Madhya Pradesh with a view to take care of rehabilitation of persons with psycho-social disabilities and to promote sports activities among Divyangjan.
The Central Advisory Board urged States/UTs to notify the Rules under the RPwD Act, 2016, appoint independent State Commissioners and constitute State Advisory Boards at the earliest. The Board advised all the Central Ministries/Departments to take effective steps to implement the Accessible India Campaign on mission mode.
The States/UTs were also requested by the Board to develop schemes and programmes to cover social security aspects as envisaged in the RPwD Act, 2016.
Ministers dealing with empowerment of Persons with Disabilities of States/UTs or their representatives from about 25 States/UTs, representatives from concerned Central Ministries/Departments, National Institutes and other Central Government organisations and non-official members of the Board participated in the meeting.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
“Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package: Insurance Scheme for Health Workers fighting COVID-19” extended for a further period of 180 days
The ‘Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package , insurance scheme for Health Care Workers Fighting COVID-19’ has been extended for a further period of 180 days from 19th April, 2022. It has been decided to extend the policy so as to continue to provide the safety net to the dependents of health workers who are deputed to take care of COVID-19 patients.
A letter dt. 19th April 2022 to this effect has been issued to the Additional Chief Secretaries /Principal Secretaries / Secretaries  of all States/UTs for giving wide publicity amongst the health workers in their respective States/UTs.
The PMGKP was launched on 30th March, 2020 to provide comprehensive personal accident cover of Rs. 50 Lakh to 22.12 lakh health care providers including community health workers and private health workers who may have been in direct contact and care of COVID-19 patients and may be at risk of being impacted by this.
Further, on account of the unprecedented situation, private hospital staff/retired/ volunteer/local urban bodies/contract/daily wage/ad-hoc/outsourced staff requisitioned by states/central hospitals/autonomous hospitals of central/states/UTs, AIIMS & Institute of National Importance /hospitals of Central Ministries specifically drafted for care of COVID-19 patients are also covered under the PMGKP.
Since the launch of the scheme, so far, 1905 claims of Health workers who died while being deployed for Covid related duties have been settled.
|
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
|
Forest Cover in India
Forest Survey of India , Dehradun, an organization under the Ministry carries out the assessment of forest cover of the country biennially since 1987 and the findings are published in India State of Forest Report . The forest cover assessment is a wall-to-wall mapping exercise based on remote sensing supported by intensive ground verification and field data from National Forest Inventory. As per the latest ISFR-2021, the total forest cover of the country is 7,13,78,903 hectare which is 21.71% of the geographical area of the country. The State and Union Territories wise details of forest cover as per ISFR 2021is given at Annexure.
Various schemes are being implemented by the Central and State Government/Union Territory Administration for increase in forest and tree cover in the country. These includes the National Afforestation Programme  and Green India Mission  being implemented by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. National Afforestation Programme is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme for regeneration of degraded forest and adjoining areas in the country. The scheme has been implemented through 3 tier institutional setup of State Forest Development Agency  at State level, Forest Development agency  at Forest Division level and Joint Forest Management Committees  at Village level. Now NAP scheme has been merged with Green India Mission. National Mission for a Green India  is one of the eight Missions outlined under the National Action Plan on Climate Change. It aims at protecting, restoring, and enhancing India’s forest cover and responding to Climate Change by means of plantation activities in the forest and non-forest areas.
Afforestation activities are also taken up under various programmes/funding sources such as Compensatory Afforestation Funds under Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority , afforestation activities under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme , National Agro-forestry Policy and Sub-mission on Agro-forestry , National Bamboo Mission and National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture. In addition to above, State and UT Governments have their own afforestation and reforestation programmes. Almost every State has activities under social forestry, which largely focuses on tree planting in the areas outside forests.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Shri Ashwini Kumar Choubey in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.
Ministry of Defence
Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat holds first meeting with Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff branch heads in push for Inter-Service jointness
Soon after assuming charge as Chief of the Defence Staff , General Bipin Rawat held a meeting with important functionaries of Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff  on January 1, 2020.Wishing them all a Happy New Year, General Rawat directed various branch heads to come up with recommendations for inter-service synergy and jointness in a time bound manner.
The CDS also directed that a proposal to create Air Defence Command be prepared by June 30, 2020. He also set out priorities for execution of synergy by June30 and December, 31 2020. Some of the areas identified for jointness and synergy include creation of common logistics support pools in stations where two or more services have their presence.
Emphasising collegiate system of functioning, General Rawat directed that all three services and Coast Guard must be consulted and their views obtained in a time bound manner. Decisions will, however, be taken to ensure optimisation of resources. Efforts will be made to cut out infructuous ceremonial activities, which are manpower intensive.
The CDS stressed that all must work towards accomplishing desired results and comingup with healthy views and ideas.
Cabinet
Cabinet gaveex-post facto approval for the order issued by the President of India to remove difficulties in the provisions of the Jammu & Kashmir Reorganisation Act 2019
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given ex-post facto approval for the Order issued by the President of India under section 103 of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act, 2019 to remove the difficulties that have arisen in giving effect to the provisions of the Act as per Rule 12 of the Government of India  Rules, 1961.
The issue of the notification would remove the difficulties in giving effect to the provisions of the Act in application of certain laws to the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir and Union territory of Ladakh.
Ministry of Railways
Cabinet approves the 3rd line between Narayangarh & Bhadrak  on South Eastern Railway
Will help generate additional optimum capacity to cope up with the existing as well as additional traffic
Capacity utilisation on Narayangarh & Bhadrak section is 138%. Third line will help reduce this congestion
Will help generate direct employment for about 37.2 lakh mandays
Total estimated cost of this project is Rs. 1,866.31 cr. & will be completed by 2023-24
The Cabinet Committee of Economic Affairs chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the construction of a 3rd railway line between Narayangarh in West Bengal & Bhadrak in Odisha of 155 kms length. At a total cost of Rs. 1,866.31 crore it is slated for completion during the year 2023-24.
The construction of the third line will help create capacity to cope with existing as well as additional traffic. The busy section between Narayangarh and Bhadrak is mainly used for the movement of coking coal to steel plants as well as the movement of export ore from the areas of Chakradharpur to several ports. Therefore, this 3rd line will help in easier movement of coal. This will help steel plants, power plants as well as the export industry, which will boost the economies of Odisha and West Bengal, and entire East India.
Third line will ease congestion on this route. Narayangarh – Bhadrak section forms a part of the Howrah-Chennai trunk route. The present utilization  of the section between Narayangarh & Bhadrak is to the tune of 138% as per Line Capacity Statement 2014-15. Over and above the heavy freight traffic, the route has to accommodate 47 pairs of coaching trains including high-speed trains like Bhubaneswar Rajdhani, Howrah-Yesvantpur Duronto, Howrah-Puri Duronto, Sealdah-Puri duronto & Howrah-Puri Shatabdi Express. This makes it highly congested.
The project will also help generate direct employment for about 37.2 lakh mandays during construction, and has the potential to generate indirect employment as well.
Prime Minister's Office
PM greets teaching community on Teachers’ Day; pays tributes to Former President Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan on his Jayanti
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has greeted teaching community on the occasion of Teachers’ Day. Prime Minister has also paid tributes to former President Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan on his Jayanti.
“शिक्षक दिवस के अवसर पर सभी शिक्षकों को हार्दिक शुभकामनाएं। Teachers Day greetings to everyone. India pays tributes to Dr. S Radhakrishnan, an exceptional teacher and mentor, on his Jayanti”, the Prime Minister said.
Prime Minister's Office
PM expresses gratitude to UNITAR
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has expressed gratitude to UN Institute for Training & Research . UNITAR has commended India's remarkable progress in reducing the premature mortality from Non Communicable Diseases.
In a tweet, the Prime Minister said, "India is at the forefront of initiatives that seek to prevent non-communicable diseases and further wellness. Grateful to UNITAR for their kind words. Together, we all have to make our planet healthier".
Ministry of Information & Broadcasting
Dedicated TV channels needed for showing short films in India: Bikramjit Gupta
‘Bridge’ is about the bond between a taxi driver and a mute girl
Goa: November 26, 2019
There should be dedicated TV channels and OTT platforms for showcasing short films in India, said Shri Bikramjit Gupta, Director of Hindi non-feature film ‘Bridge’. “ There are many film festivals for short films nowadays. Due to social media short films are gaining popularity also. But we need more ways to monetize them”, he said. Shri Bikramjit Gupta was attending a media conference at the 50th International Film Festival of India today in Panaji.
Sharing the genesis of his movie, Shri Bikramjit said that the film is about the bond between a taxi driver and a mute girl who later in the film, turned out to be not mute. “The city Mumbai has a vibrant night life.It never sleeps. I have met a lot of people who are on the roads at night. There was this kind of feeling of insecurity and danger to those who are on pavements. What will happen if someone who is in flesh trade, finds a small girl on the road. Will he help her or will he behave like a beast. That thought inspired me to make this film,” he said.
On asked if it is better to write one’s own script and direct it, the filmmaker said, “It is not necessary but whenever one writes a script, they visualise the film for sure.”
Replying to questions of funding, Shri Bikramjit said, “You just need to reach out to people. Knock on all doors and ask them to see your story, there is no other way. I am not from affluent family to produce myself.”
Bridge
It tells the tale of a special kind of friendship that evolves between a taxi driver and a mute girl. The story happens in Mumbai. Vinod, a taxi driver-cum-pimp, finds a young, mute girl in Mumbai. Rajjo, a prostitute, is irked as the girl’s presence in the taxi harms her nightly earnings. The two decide to locate the girl’s family. She shows them a photo of a bridge near Koliwada, but when they reach there she is not able to locate her house. Next morning, the girl goes missing from the cab. After a few months, Vinod sees the girl again, and follows her to a slum. Vinod speculates something impious but the final revelation initiates a special kind of friendship.
Bikramjit Gupta is a film director with over 15 years of experience in making feature films, documentary films, independent films, docu dramas, spots and corporate films. He has worked with global TV networks and production houses and has researched wildlife documentaries.
Ministry of Communications
Circle Level Dak Adalat
Panji, 25 February 2021
The Chief Postmaster General, Maharashtra Circle, Mumbai, will be holding the 114the Dak Adalat on 22.03.2021, in his office at 2nd floor, GPO Building Mumbai.
Complaints/ grievances regarding Postal Services pertaining to Maharashtra and Goa States which have not been settled within 6 weeks will be entertained in this Dak Adalat. The complaints relating to Unregistered/ Registered mails, Speed Post, Counter Services, Saving Banks and non-payment of Money Orders, etc. will be considered during Dak Adalat. Complaints should contain details like names and designations of the officers to whom original complaint was addressed, particulars of articles/ Money orders/ Saving Bank Accounts/Certificates, etc.
Interested customers may send their complaint regarding Postal Services in Duplicate to Shri H.M.Manjesha, Assistant Director Postal Services  and Secretary, Dak Adalat, O/o the Chief Postmaster General, Maharashtra Circle, 2nd floor, GPO Building, Mumbai-400 001 on or before 05.03.2021. The proforma is available in the website of Maharashtra Postal Circle www.maharashtrapost.gov.in.PIB-Goa/VK/VG/DR
Follow us on social media: @PIBMumbai /PIBMumbai /pibmumbai pibmumbai[at]gmail[dot]com
(Visitor Counter : 143
Ministry of Science & Technology
Newly developed ultrathin heteroprotein film: better alternative to isolated protein films
Scientists have developed ultra-thin heteroprotein films with excellent thermal, mechanical and pH stability which can pave the way for expanding applications of thin films in biomedical and food packaging industries. These films are much thinner as compared to the other protein or plastic films. They are soft and thin and have the advantage of being more flexible than the other films.
In the recent past, several modifications of these protein films with the help of suitable heteroprotein complexes were reported by different research groups. These complexes were usually developed from bulk solutions.
A research group from the physical sciences division of Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology , Guwahati, an autonomous institute under the Department of Science and Technology, has successfully developed ultrathin monolayer protein films consisting of two globular proteins: bovine serum albumin  and lysozyme . They used the technique called using Langmuir-Blodgett  technique which gives the films thickness in the order of nanometer.
This research work is led by Dr. Sarathi Kundu, Associate Professor, along with Mr. Raktim J. Sarmah, SRF, a Ph.D. student developed a monolayer heteroprotein film – the first one using this technique. They explored the different structures and morphologies of this complex films at variable pH conditions to explore its stability and related properties.
The complex formation between the two proteins occurred at a unique pH of 9.2 as a result of an electrostatic attraction along with hydrophobic interactions. This monolayer complex was formed at the air-water interface, which was later transferred to the silicon substrates at a surface pressure of 18 mN/m for further study. It was shown that the monolayers at the air-water interface can hold its intrinsic structure for a sufficiently longer period of time due to the complexation forming a highly stable film.
Films of such protein complex of BSA and Lys can be useful for fabricating highly stable biodegradable thin films of different protein complexes for expanding its applications in the area of thin-film technology. Diverse physicochemical methods such as parameter alteration or incorporation of different fatty acids or polyol moieties  into this protein complex can make the film free standing for diverse applications. This research work was recently published in the esteemed journal of Food Hydrocolloids under the reputed Elsevier publishers.
Publication link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodhyd.2022.107788
<><><><><>
SNC/RR
(Visitor Counter : 1899
Prime Minister's Office
PM condoles loss of lives due to mishap in Shahjahanpur, UP
Announces ex-gratia from PMNRF for the victims
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has expressed grief over the loss of lives due to mishap in Shahjahanpur, UP. Shri Modi has announced an ex-gratia from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund  for the victims.
In a series of PMO tweets, the Prime Minister said;
"उत्तर प्रदेश के शाहजहांपुर में ट्रैक्टर ट्रॉली के नदी में गिरने से हुई दुर्घटना अत्यंत आहत करने वाली है। इस हादसे में जिन लोगों ने अपने प्रियजनों को खोया है, उनके प्रति गहरी संवेदना प्रकट करने के साथ ही मैं सभी घायलों के शीघ्र स्वस्थ होने की कामना करता हूं: PM"
"शाहजहांपुर में हुई इस त्रासदी को देखते हुए स्थानीय प्रशासन राहत और बचाव में पूरी तत्परता से जुटा है। पीड़ितों की हरसंभव मदद की जा रही है: PM"
"An ex gratia of Rs. 2 lakh would be given to the next of kin of each of those who lost their lives in the mishap in Shahjahanpur, UP. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000: PM"
Ministry of Culture
Ministry of Culture administers Financial Assistance to Veteran Artists Scheme to provide financial assistance to veteran artists of the country: Shri G. Kishan Reddy
Highlights :
- The disbursement of financial assistance to the recommended artists is subject to submission of requisite documents by the beneficiaries selected under the Scheme such as Digital Life Certificate, Income Certificates etc.
The Ministry of Culture administers a Scheme by the name of ‘Financial Assistance for Veteran Artists’  to provide financial assistance to veteran artists of the country of the age of 60 years and above in the form of monthly artists’ pension. It has been the endeavor of the Government to make continuous efforts to ensure that pension to the beneficiaries is disbursed in a timely manner. However, the disbursement of financial assistance to the recommended artists is subject to submission of requisite documents by the beneficiaries selected under the Scheme such as Digital Life Certificate, Income Certificates etc.
Once all requisite documents are received from the beneficiaries, all efforts are made to process the disbursement of pension expeditiously. As release of artist pension is an ongoing process, action is being taken continuously to release the pending payments as and when requisite documents are received from the beneficiaries. Ministry of Culture has entrusted the Life Insurance Corporation  vide an MoU in 2009 for disbursing the monthly artists pension to selected beneficiaries prior to the year 2017.
The performance of LIC is reviewed from time to time and advisories are issued to them for timely disbursal of artists beneficiaries upon receipt of requisite documents from them and to submit a quarterly report in this regard. To cut down the delay in disbursal of pension to the old artists, release of artists pension to the selected beneficiaries is made by the Ministry itself upon receipt of requisite documents from them from the year 2017-18.
This reply was given by Minister of Culture, Tourism and Development of North Eastern Region Shri G. Kishan Reddy in Lok Sabha today.
Ministry of Commerce & Industry
Initiatives taken by Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade  to speed up patent applications and eliminate pendency
The Department has taken various initiatives to expedite the process of patent applications and eliminate pendency that includes manpower augmentation from time to time, setting up of feedback mechanism and appropriate legislative amendments. These includes, modernization of the Intellectual property  oﬃces with steady switchover from manual to computerized system of processing of applications, improved management of intellectual property  related information, creation of stronger public interface and revamping of the routine functioning of IP oﬃces. Further, considering the COVID-19 pandemic, oﬃcers have been provided with VPN access to avoid any delay in examination process. Also, to facilitate early disposal of applications, hearing of contested cases is done through videoconferencing, thereby removing the requirement of visiting the oﬃce by the applicant.
Further, for patent oﬃce international patent classiﬁcation tool, WIPO-IPCCAT has been implemented, which helps the examiners and controllers to categorize the patents accurately and consistently into their main and sub-group levels in IPC. An appropriate classiﬁcation results in eﬀective and eﬃcient prior arts search. For trademarks, India has acceded to Treaties on International Classiﬁcation  including Nice Agreement, Vienna Agreement, Locarno Agreement, which helps to harmonise the classiﬁcation systems for examination of trademark and design applications, in line with the classiﬁcation systems followed globally. Apart from initial induction, regular trainings are given to the technical manpower of patent oﬃce at Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Intellectual Property Management , Nagpur and foreign IP Oﬃces, to improve their skills required for speedy examination and grant/registration of IP applications
The Department regularly reviews the manpower strength of Patent Oﬃce with Controller General of Patents, Designs & Trademarks oﬃce. In addition to the existing manpower of 936 oﬃcers, 500 additional posts in the Patent Oﬃce have been created. Further, approval for recruitment of 200 contractual manpower to assist the Patent oﬃcers in expediting the examination of application has been given.
Patent Oﬃce has adopted centralized system of allocation of patent applications in which applications are allotted to oﬃcers irrespective of geographical location. All operations in the Patent Oﬃce have been digitized. Further, comprehensive e-ﬁling system has been introduced which is available 24x7. Therefore, an applicant situated in any part of India can ﬁle his/her patent application without any requirement of visiting Patent Office.
Ministry of Finance
Government to study the arbitration case award in Vodafone International Holding BV
The Finance Ministry has said today that it has just been informed that the award in the arbitration case invoked by Vodafone International Holding BV against Government of India has been passed. The Government will be studying the award and all its aspects carefully in consultation with its counsels. After such consultations, the Government will consider all options and take a decision on further course of action including legal remedies before appropriate fora.